Bob Gaspar started playing drums at age 8; there was never any question of playing another instrument. Drumming was and remains--some 40 years later--"it" for Bob.
He took private lessons throughout school in Olean, NY, including several years with drum guru Brud Bunker (who once placed second in a national contest run by Gene Krupa). Bob played in all sorts of school groups--band, orchestra, with singers and shows, all the way through college. He was nominated for McDonald's high school all-American band.
He played his first paid gig at age 15 with a group of very experienced older jazz musicians. Many rock gigs followed shortly thereafter. Bob's formative band was a Southern rock-oriented guitar army called Swiss Chard (many adventures and good memories with them). He moved to Connecticut and played with various blues, wedding, and folk 'n' roll bands. At some point he got the bug to play hand drums and started collecting all kinds of world percussion instruments.
(As a kid he had hooked two of his father's Sir Walter Raleigh cans together with rubber bands to make bongos.)
Bob recorded and performed with singer/performance artist Shadow.
Bob Gaspar's main influences are Ringo, Charlie, and Bobby Elliot (of the Hollies). His drumming philosophy is that "less is often more," and his drumming is always in support of the song.
In addition to playing with Kenn Morr, Bob also plays with Country Music Association Horizon Vocalist of the Year A.J. Jansen and the Midnite Junkies. He's played venues throughout the Northeast, including Ontario Place in Toronto, the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Casino, the Big E, and every gin joint from here to there.
Bob Gaspar plays Remo hand drums, a Sonor drum set, and uses Zildjian cymbals.